In a bid to protect the interest of students choosing Distance Education courses, Universities and institutions across the country have been cautioned for giving misleading advertisements in newspapers, stating that their programmes are recognized by the Distance Education Council (DEC).

In a note of caution from Professor V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai, Chairman of the Distance Education Council (DEC) and Vice Chancellor of the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), it has been stated that the DEC has prescribed guidelines for determination of the standards for Distance Education systems in the country.

"It is therefore mandatory for all Institutions, Centres and Directorates offering programmes through the distance education mode to get their Degrees, Diplomas and Certificate programmes recognized and approved by the DEC", Prof. Pillai said.

In case an institution is already running distance education programmes, it must apply to DEC for recognition of the institution and its programmes.

It is also the responsibility of the institution to strictly adhere to the norms prescribed by the concerned statutory authorities for offering professional and technical programmes.

Further, those Universities which have been approved by DEC for the academic year 2009-10 onwards were also asked to clearly mention the names of the programmes for which approval has been granted to them, in their advertisements.

"The institutions violating these norms would be liable to be de-recognized by the DEC", Prof. Pillai added.

It has also been informed to the institutions offering education through distance mode that any degree/ diploma/ certificate being offered by them through distance mode not recognized by DEC, shall not be accepted for employment in Government service.

The institutions / Universities have been directed to submit their applications to the DEC within a month's time, in the prescribed proforma available on the DEC website, for obtaining recognition for themselves and their programmes.